HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival helped lift the status of Purebred Arabian racing to a new high when the Dolby Studio in Los Angeles (the old Kodak Studio) staged a glittering night of the Darley Awards with the Powell brothers sharing six of the 22 awards on offer.

While the 2013 HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival Darley awards for Arabian Racing in USA saw Mark Powell and his younger brother Scott pick up three awards each the popular HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards, catered to a much broader section of women and female horses in Purebred Arabian racing at Friday’s ceremony.

Shayel Aldhabi a UAE-bred mare owned by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, served as a solid reflection to the success of UAE’s local breeding programme when winning the Best Old Mare Award while in the same HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards, HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs saw his 3-year-old filly Lorra top its category.

The Darley Awards, organized by the Arabian Racing Cup also revived a special category award after a gap of ten years and honoured Sheikh Mansoor and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, President of the General Women’s Union – Chairwoman of Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council for their support to Arabian racing around the globe.

It was an exciting evening at Hollywood’s most popular vicinity when the red carpet was laid for the cream of the Purebred Arabian racing fraternity of the USA and the rest of the world and in true ‘Oscar’ style the guests for the ‘Black-tie’ event faced the cameras with Derek Thomson hosting the show.

The imposing and magnificent Dolby Studio then came alive to host the passionate Purebred Arabian family as top achievers of the US as well as women contributors to the sport from the rest of the world were identified and honoured.

HE Abdulla Al Subosi, General Consulate of the UAE Embassy in Los Angeles welcomed the gathering while Dr Wadoda Badran, Director-General of the Arab Women Organization, Bahrain’s Shura Council member Lulwa Awadhi, IFAHR Chairman Sami Al Boenain, Lara Sawaya, Director HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee (IFAHR), ADEC’s Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, DEC’s Ali Moosa Al Khamiri, Invest AD’s Sheikjh Hamdan Al Sharqi, ADSC’s Salah Al Marzooqi along with the stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup- Denise Gault, Dr Kinsman Wright, Dianne Waldron, Nancy Blewet, Deborah Mihalof, Michelle Morgan and Sam Vasquez among others gave away the various awards.

Ms Lara Sawaya and Musallam Al Amri, Racing Manager for Sheikh Mansoor, received HH Sheikha Fatima and HH Sheikh Mansoor awards and expressed their total satisfaction over the success of the event which is being held in such a historic venue and on such a large scale for the first time event.

Ms Sawaya also presented a momento to Ed Murphy, Manager of the Dolby Studio and said a gala dinner will be held tomorrow as part of the event.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

The 2013 HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival Darley winners (USA):

• 3 YEAR OLD COLT OR GELDING – Thess Is Awesome

• 3 YEAR OLD FILLY – Dhaan

• 4 YEAR OLD COLT OR GELDING – Smoke House

• 4 YEAR OLD FILLY – Mahra T

• OLDER HORSE – So Big Is Better

• OLDER MARE – Ms Dixie

• OWNER – Mark Powell

• BREEDER – Bill Waldron

• TRAINER – Scott Powell

• JOCKEY – Juan Torres

• HORSE OF THE YEAR: SO BIG IS BETTER